Information about Plasma Displays and a comparison with LCD Technology.

Plasma Technology has been with us since its inception in the mid 1960's and it is indeed LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Technology that is actually the younger and newer of the two types of technology available with Plasma being with us since the mid 60's.

To bring it down to its most simplistic form plasma display works effectively by housing many thousands of tiny cells located between two panels of glass which are held in a mixture of inert gasses usually Neon or Xenon.

Again to be simplistic about it effectively what happens is that the gas in the cells is electronically turned into plasma which then triggers off a reaction with the gas and causes phosphors to emit light therefore depending on the temperature of the gasses and the electrical current depends which colours the phosphors turn into.

Now this is admittedly a gross over simplification of how Plasma Technology works and may cause the palpitations and increased heart rate if possibly every 'techno geek' known to man but in its very essence this is what it does.

With regards to the actual technology itself Plasma technology is probably one of the older forms of technology used for televisions and flat screen TVs in particular since it's been around since 1964 when it was first 'conceived' for want of a better description at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne.

Plasma Display screen sizes can of course vary like most technologies but it is interesting to note that from an initial start where the sizes were little more than 21 inches Plasma technology displays have now grown rapidly to become the largest and widest of all screens by and large available at the present time.

To a certain degree the superior brightness, faster response time and the greater colour spectrum, wider viewing angle of colour plasma displays have over the years 'ruled the roost' with regards to large screen displays however technology has changed with regards to LCD TVs and the technological gap has narrowed.

In these eco friendly times you will find that one of the main selling points with LCD screens nowadays lies with the fact that Plasma tend to be very power hungry (and as such warm) and by and large heavier so very much of an environmental disaster zone as far as TV's are concerned.

Since 2006, which according to analysts was very much a watershed year in that it was the year that LCD TV's really started to take market share from the Plasma manufacturers, LCD TV's have started to share the large screen market with Plasmas. One of the other areas of consolidation within the Industry has seen the Plasma manufacturing base very much consolidate with now over 50 brands being manufactured by only 5 companies ' this of course has led to economies of scale hitherto imagined where the technology of more and more screens can be shared and further help cut the overall cost base.

{Historically the superior brightness of Plasma Technology made it a favourite amongst TV designers for the faith rendition it gave the picture quality however this is now starting to be matched with the latest and better quality LCD TV's appearing into the marketplace.|Over the years it has been felt that some of the technological aspects of Plasma technology leant it self more to the higher end of screen performances such as greater brightness control, screen resolution etc) however this is now changing. Whereas LCD was very much seen as a cross between the poorer relation and junior technology of the two, now things have changed and LCD is seen as being very much the technology of the future.

Stephen Morgan writes quite regularly on the Internet about TV and Home Entertainment issues and more on the above can be found at flat screen tvs and also at http://bestflatscreentv.biz